Combined closure and dispensing applicator for collapsible tubes



March 11, 1952 J. B. TEGARTY 2,539,206 COMBINED CLOSURE AND DISPENSINGAPPLICATOR FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Nov. 9, 1946 2 Sl-EETSSHEET 1 INVEN TOR. J OH/ICB. 77mm? BY /4 T'TY March 11, 1952 J. B. TEGARTYCOMBINED CLOSURE AND DISPENSING APPLICATOR FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES 2SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1946 INVENTOR. JZH/Y' Z Tram? 72 PatentedMar. 11, 1952 COMBINED CLOSURE AND DISPENSING APPLICATOR FOR COLLAPSIBLETUBES John B. Tegarty, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Justin W. Macklin,Cleveland, Ohio, as trustee Application November 9, 1946, Serial No.708,841

10 Claims. (01. 222-205) This invention relates to an applicator in thenature of dispensing and closure means for collapsible tubes containingpaste, such as deodorant, toothpaste, and the like.

The objects of the invention include preserving the standardconstruction of a collapsible tube with a head member having a threadednipple and providing for attachment to the threads a closure devicewhich may serve as a fountain head and applicator, and which may open topermit extruding the paste from the collapsible tube container through apassage or passages at the upper or outer end of the head member, andwhich by a partial turn of one part may tightly seal the openingsthrough which paste has been extruded.

The simplicity of operation coupled with cheapness of construction,along with durability in use, are important objects.

A more specific object is to so design and shape such an applicator headas to present a novel and artistic appearance.

Other objects will become apparent in the following description whichpertains to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferredembodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible tubeequipped with my dispensing closure device.

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are perspective views of the two parts thereof.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the open position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical axial section through the same.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the fountain head portion with the cap removed.

Fig. 7 is an axial section taken at right angles to the section of Fig.5.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail and perspective showing one of theattaching fingers for the cap member.

In the drawings T is a collapsible tube such as used for toothpaste,creams, and the like, having the usual sealing seam l by which it isfolded or collapsed toward its conical head 2 having the usual threadswhich may be screwed into the threads 5 of the applicator and closure ofmy invention.

The threads 5 are shown as formed in a cylindrical boss or nipple 6 inaxial alignment with a tubular portion I shown as having a closed end 8,and a constricted or beveled portion 9 through which a pair ofdispensing openings I0 extend. At the juncture between the threadednipples 6 and the tube 1 is an integral outwardly extendins disk I2carrying a downwardly extending 2 skirt [4 of such a length that itoverlaps the upper end of the tube T, as shown in Fig. 1 andparticularly in Fig. 5, where the tube is indicated in broken lines.

A closure for the openings It] comprises a cuplike member or cap I5having an inwardly and downwardly extending sleeve I6 embracing theupper end of the passage member 1, and having an outwardly sloping andcurving side wall, the lower edge of which fits against the disk memberl2. The top or dispensing end of the cap member is shaped to providerecesses 20 and inwardly projecting valve seat members 22.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the recesses 20 are shown registering with thedischarge openings l0. As the cap is turned, the closure portions 22slide over the openings l0, closing them as shown in Fig. 7.

It is desirable that this opening and closing be accomplished with abouta quarter of a turn of the cap I5, and that the cap be firmly held tobring the tapered portion of the upper end, namely, the inside of thevalve portions 22, into contact with the bevel through whichthe'opening's l0 extend. To this end I provide a novel and effectivearrangement permitting convenient assembly and effective securing of theparts in operative position, while'permitting subsequent repeatedturning for opening and closing.

In the preferred arrangement shown, the disk 12 is provided with arcuateslots 30 having widened portions 3| to permit the entry of beveledhooked fingers 35 which extend downwardly from and are rigid with thelower edge of the dome-shaped cap member 15.

The projections 35 are shown as notched at the upper side to ride alonga rail or ramp 36 having one level of downward projection 31 which isslopingly joined with a deeper or higher portion 38, along which thenotch of the hooked fingers 35 may slide.

To assemble the cap and head member, more specifically the disk l2, thefingers are thrust through the widened portion 3| of the slots 30, thesides of the cap springing inwardly during the insertion of the hookfingers. The fingers then spring outwardly engaging beneath the disk [2in a position to effectively hold the members 22 against the bevel 9.

In this position the recesses 20 register with the openings l0. Thesedispensing openings I0 may now be closed by turning the cap 15, and asthe hook fingers 35 ride along the ramp ribs 31 and 38, the increasingdownward pull effects a tight sealing of the openings II] by the poretions 22.

The cap I 5 has two somewhat flattened sure faces I! arranged as shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 7, which lend a unique and artistic appearance, andfacilitate gripping and turning the cap on the head portion.

It will be seen that the circular lower edge of the cap portion l5,however, covers and conceals the slots 30 at all times, assuring a'neatappearance.

The two portions of the closure head having been assembled as described,the threads 5 are tightly screwed upon the threaded nipple of the tubeT, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The parts of the closure head are so designed as to be capable of beingmolded in plastic by conventional or injection molding. Plastic materialis selected for appearance and color, if desired, and in any event theplastic tightly grips and freezes the machine threads of the nipple onthe tube avoiding loosening as the closure cap is operated for ejectingthe paste, and again closing the dispensing openings.

The shape of the recesses is such that they may be readily wiped cleanafter each use, and the end or top of the cap presents a good shape fromwhich the material may be extruded and removed by the fingers, or thepalm of the hand is used.

' It will be seen that the tube may be used for direct application tothe users skin, as, for example, at the underarm.

It will be noted that these parts are so designed that they may becompression or injection molded of thermo-plastic material. They may beribbed and braced for stiffening purposes, and various modifications maybe made in shape, size and details of construction from that shown anddescribed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An applicator and closure for use with a collapsible tube having adischarge opening, and comprising a base member provided with securingmeans'for attachment to the tube, and having an outwardly extendingmember having a skirt turned toward and adapted to engage the end of thecollapsible tube, said member being provided with arcuate openings insaid outwardly extending member within the skirt, a cap memher havingprojections extending through said arcuate openings and engaging theoutwardly extending member on the side toward the tube, the cap memberhaving a valve surface, and a projecting passage member rigid with thebase member leading from the threaded nipple and having an eccentricopening, said eccentric openings being positioned to register in oneposition of the cap, the cap member being adapted to turn, thus movingthe projections within the arcuate openings and closing the deliverypassage at the valve surface.

,7 2. A closure and applicator for use with a collapsible tube having adelivery opening, and comprising a head member provided with securingmeans adapted tightly to engage the tube at its opening, and having anoutwardly projecting passage extension member registering with theopening in the tube and terminating in an end surface having deliveryopenings therethrough, a radially outwardly extending portion having askirt adapted to engage the adjacent end of the tube, there beingarcuate slots formed in the outwardly projecting portion, a cap memberhaving outwardly turned hooked members at its open end projectingthrough said slots and engaging 4 said outwardly extending portion, andhaving a portion embracing the passage member on the base and a valvesurface complementary to the said end surface, the arcuate slots eachhaving an enlarged portion permitting the cap member to be assembledwith the base member by springing it inwardly at the projections and theresiliency of the cap thereafter assuring the engagement of theprojections while the cap acts to cover the slots, said valve surfacehaving openings adapted to register with said delivery openings, and theslots being of such length as to permit rotary movement to open andclose the delivery opening, and means beneath which the hooked membersengage to assure a tightening and wiping action at the orifice duringthe closing movement of the cap on the base member, and to assure atight seal of the delivery orifice.

3. A closure and an applicator adapted for use with a container having athreaded nipple and a delivery opening therethrough, the closure andapplicator comprising a head member provided with threads adapted totightly engage the threads on the nipple and having an axial tubularextension closed at its outer end except for having an eccentric openingat the end, a cap rotatably engaging the tubular extension and having aneccentric opening adapted to register with the first mentioned openingand adapted to be turned out of registration therewith, the base memberhaving a laterally extending flange provided with a pair of arcuateslots opening longitudinally of the axis of the tubular extension, camsassociated with the arcuate slots, the cap member having an annularportion normally closing said arcuate opening and extending through andmovable in said arcuate slots and having hooked members with shoulderspresenting surfaces extending transversely of said axis and adapted toengage the cams.

4. An applicator and closure such as described in claim 3 in which thereare radially extending enlargements of the arcuate slots to permit thespringing of the hook members on the cap into their engaging position.

5. A closure and applicator device adapted to be rigidly secured to thedelivery nipple on a collapsible tube comprising a head member providedwith means for embracing and coacting with the tube nipple, the headmember having an outwardly extending disk-like portion and a skirtportion turned therefrom parallel with the axis of the tube and adaptedto engage the tube adjacent the nipple thereon, a cup-like cap memberrotatably engaging said disk member and having laterally turned hooks atits open side, arcuate slots in the disk member through which said hooksproject,'cam surfaces adjacent the slots adapted to be engaged by thehooks, the cap member having an eccentric opening in its closed end, atubular extension on the head member adapted to communicate with thedischarge opening of the collapsible tube, and having an eccentricopening adapted to be registered with the cap opening when in oneposition of the cap and be closed in another position of the cap.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 in which the cap and disk form aclosed exterior and the hooks project from the edge of the cap andextend through the slots in the disk into engagement with the camsurfaces.

7. An applicator cap and closure structure adapted for use with acollapsible tube of the type having a discharge nipple, said structurecomprising a head member having means for securing it to the nipple andprovided with a passage for registering with the discharge passage ofthe nipple, an outwardly extending wing member rigid with the head andhaving arcuate slots and adjacent cam surfaces concentric with thedischarge passage of the head, a cap comprising a cup-like member havingits edge fitting the edge of the wing member and having hooks extendingthrough said slots to the opposite side of the wing member from the capand engaging the cam surfaces, the cap having an eccentric opening andthe discharge passage having an eccentric opening adapted to be broughtinto registration upon the turning of the cap, the hooks and camsurfaces engaged thereby being adapted to cause a tight closure of thedischarge opening, and the cap presenting a Wiping and apply ing surfaceoutside of the discharge opening.

8. A'structure such as described in claim 7 in which the arcuate slotsin the wing member are curved on a radius such that the slots are closedby the edge of the wall of the cup-like cap and through which the hooksextend for holding and tight closing engagement, the ends of the slotsserving to limit the opening and closing turning movement of the cap.

9. A closure and applicator device adapted to be rigidly secured to thedelivery nipple on a collapsible tube, and comprising a head memberprovided with means for embracing and coacting with the tube nipple,said means having an out wardly laterally extending support, a cup-likecap member rotatably engaging said support and having laterally turnedhooks at its edge, in-

wardly facing arcuate guide surfaces on said sup- :2

port, cam surfaces adjacent the arcuate surfaces at the side thereofopposite the cap and adapted to be engaged by the hooks, the cap memberhaving a transverse material spreading and applying face having roundededges at the perimeter thereof and an eccentric opening through theface, a tubular extension on said head member having an eccentricopening adapted to register with said cap opening and to be opened inone position of the cap and be closed in another position of the cap andadapted to communicate 6 with the discharge opening of the collapsibletube.

10. An applicator closure and cap adapted for attachment to a dischargenipple of a container comprising a cap and base member, the cap memberhaving an elongated transverse Wiping surface with rounded edges at theperimeter and an eccentric opening therethrough, an axial tube on thebase member adapted to communicate with the opening through thecontainer nipple and having an eccentric opening positioned to registerwith the eccentric opening of the axial tube and to be turned away fromit on rotary movement of the cap, the cap member being in the nature ofa cup having projections toward the base and the base member havingretaining and tightening cam shoulders arcuate with respect to the axialtube and sloping with relation to a transverse plane to tighten the capas it is turned to the position to close the axial tube eccentricopening, said cap member being provided with a telescoping sleeveembracing the axial tube member at its outer .end, and the cam surfacesbeing so shaped as to prevent disengagement of the sleeve and axialtube.

JOHN B. TEGARTY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,548,118 Densmore Aug. 4, 19251,795,737 Rundell Mar. 10, 1931 1,958,432 Hartog May 15, 1934 2,017,140Worth Oct. 15, 1935 2,133,907 Masbach et al July 19, 1938 2,186,449Drobniewsky Jan. 9, 1940 2,330,939 Wilson Oct. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 396,851 Great Britain Aug. 17, 1933 555,718 GreatBritain Sept. 3, 1943

